HR Cost Controller

Daikin Europe NV (DENV) is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Limited, a Japanese outstanding company and worldwide the biggest developer, producer and supplier of HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) solutions, including heating pumps and cooling technology.

DENV is Daikin’s sales, R&D, and production headquarters for Europe, the Middle-East and Africa. The headquarter has Belgian offices in Brussels, Ghent and Ostend, as well as 8 production plants, 24 sales subsidiaries and offices and a whole network of independent distributors and dealers across the EMEA region.

Location:

Daikin Europe – Brussels Office; occasional travel within Belgium and across Europe may be required.

Role Purpose:

The HR Cost Controller acts as the Process Owner of the DENV Labour Budget process, with main focus on Manufacturing and secondary focus on EMEA Development Center business units. This role is accountable for end-to-end governance, accuracy, and timely execution of annual and periodic labour cost planning, result follow-up, and variance explanation (budget versus actual). The HR Cost Controller ensures that all labour-related financial data, including headcount, salary structures, and associated costs, are consolidated, validated, and aligned with the corporate budgeting standards and the strategic workforce plans of the business units. The role also includes responsibility for the processes to obtain subsidies (e.g., R&D, LIFE, Training) and collaborates closely hereto with key stakeholders to maximize the potential for Daikin in a compliant way. Additionally, the HR Cost Controller provides clear standards, reporting and insights to support decision-making and focuses on continuous improvement of tools and processes, leveraging automation and best practices to enhance efficiency and data integrity across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as Process Owner for the DENV Labour Budget process with main focus on Manufacturing and secondary EMEA Development Center business units.
• Ensure end-to-end governance, accuracy, and timely execution of annual and periodic labour cost planning.
• Perform result follow-up and variance explanation between budget and actuals.
• Consolidate and validate labour-related financial data, including headcount, salary structures, and associated costs.
• Align labour cost data with corporate budgeting standards and strategic workforce plans.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and maximize subsidy opportunities (R&D, LIFE, Training).
• Develop clear standards and reporting frameworks for subsidy monitoring and decision-making.
• Provide accurate and insightful reporting on labour costs and budget performance to support management decisions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for budgeting tools and processes, leveraging automation and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations related to labour budgeting and subsidies.

Required Profile:

• Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related field.
• Proven experience in cost control, budgeting, or financial planning within an international environment.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret complex data and provide actionable insights.
• Knowledge of labour cost structures and subsidy programs.
• Proficiency in financial systems and tools (advanced knowledge in Excel and Power BI); experience with automation and process optimization is a plus.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a complex organization.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are an asset.

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to work in a dynamic, international environment.
• Exposure to strategic financial and HR projects impacting global teams.
• Collaborative culture with focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
• Professional development and growth opportunities within a leading organization.

Daikin Europe is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. and the leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, and refrigeration technology. The company designs, manufactures and brings to market a broad portfolio of equipment, as well as tailor-made solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). To date, Daikin EMEA has over 12 000 employees across more than 59 consolidated subsidiaries. It has 12 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria, and the UK. Our aim is to drive sustainable and effective solutions, sparking a good climate for the generations to come. And all this can only be achieved because of our People. 

Good climate starts with people 
Our employees are the beating heart of our company. At Daikin, you get to work in a positive environment backed by trust, creativity and continuous improvement. Together, we create our top-quality solutions by empowering talented teams. You will get plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. We are deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace culture that reflects the communities we serve. Good climate starts with people.